Why I Hesitate to call Myself a Feminist

Other people will call me a rebel, but I just feel like I'm living my life and doing what I want to do. Sometimes people call that rebellion, especially when you're a woman. -Joan Jett

Joan Jett, among other women in society and history alike, is considered a Feminist. Many people of today see the word feminist and automatically deem that person as a crazy, man-hating, psychopath with no right to opinions. Why is this? What has happened since 1895 when the first use of the word feminism was recorded? In society today, why do less women proudly state that they are feminist and often try to avoid the word completely? What has led to the discouragement of giving ones self this title?


In 1848 the Seneca Falls Convention, assembled by Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucretia Mott, and others, called for full legal equality with men, including full educational opportunity and equal compensation. This convention was a key forerunner to the Woman Suffrage movement. Women gained the right to vote in 1918 and 1920 respectively, after years of facing much resistance in the United States. The first recognized accomplishments for women's rights is often referred to as the "first wave" of feminism. Though some black women such as journalist Ida B. Wells participated in the suffrage movement, first wave feminism was dominated by white, middle class women. Toward the end of the first wave, as Marxism spread in parts of Europe, feminist Marxists such as Rosa Luxembourg called for more dramatic social transformation.

After the suffrage movement, first wave feminism became less of an ordeal and began to diminish. Luxembourg's call for total transformation would not be acted upon until the 1950s and 1960s. Inspired by feminist writers and philosophers, including Virginia Woolf and Simone de Beauvoir, second wave feminists aimed to change the social standing of women. These feminists often became so radical many women from the movement were alienated as others formed separatist communes to completely eliminate men from their lives.

The third wave of feminism arose in the late 1900s. This wave challenged middle-class white feminists and expanded feminism's goals to include equal rights for all people no matter their race, educational status, social standing, physical appearance/ability, or sexual preference. During this time, feminist Heather Corinna began a website magazine called Scarleteen, offering sex education to young people. Corinna's emphasis on several matters of sex and a person's body began a movement within third wave feminism called "sex positive feminism." At the same time, women of color became more and more active in feminism. Groups like the SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Justice Collective led a reproductive rights movement that treated reproduction as more than just access to birth control and abortion rights. They rejected earlier feminist eugenicist thinking and insisted that oppressed women should be supported when they chose to have children as well.

In the 21st century, more commonly seen is radical feminism. Radical feminists aim to challenge and overthrow patriarchy by opposing standard gender roles and oppression of women and call for a radical reordering of society. This form of feminism insists that the world would be a better place and could continue successfully with little or no existence of men.


Taking a step back and looking at the progression and expanding definition for the word feminist or feminism, it is easy to see why so many people look down on those who claim to be a feminist. After taking into consideration that of the 28 percent of Americans that consider themselves to be feminist, an overwhelming majority are radical feminists, it is even easier to understand the sudden avoidance of the title feminist. Because of these reasons, I think it is a shame that women who stand for equality cannot claim the title first given to them.
I do believe that all peoples, regardless of thier race, should be treated as any other person, but to a certain extent. For example, if two men were cutting trees and hauling wood for 8 hours each day and being paid the same amount per tree cut and hauled, and one man did more than the other, he should naturally be paid more. With the same example, but with two women, if one did more work than the other, she should be paid more. Now, take a woman and a man and apply them to the same example and say that the man did more work than the woman. The man in this instance should be paid more. Flip that last example around and make it to prove the opposite and the woman should be paid more.
I am not going to say that there are jobs that one sex or the other will never be able to have and shouldn't be able to work, because I don't believe that personally, but I am going to say that there are certain jobs that women and men will just be able to do better than one another and should get paid more for that fact.

I hesitate to call myself a feminist because even though I believe in gender equality and women's rights, I will not go as far as saying that men are not a necessity to life or society. I believe in equals, isn't this what feminism was started for? Equality? So why now is it so important that women take equality and try to use it as a pass to make females the superior gender?

I will stand with women who believe that we should be treated equal with men, call us what you will, but in today's day and age, please do not call me a feminist.

(Bullets: I live in a country women are the most privileged.

Being a woman is not a disadvantage.

I don't need ANY title or movement to make me feel empowered.

I support EQUALITY and that's not what Modern Feminism is about.

Nobody should be (or feel) OPPRESSED. That goes for men too.

I only feel "victimized" by feminists who tell me I'm wrong or weak for not BULLYING the opposite gender.

I KNOW I'm strong. I don't need to hurt others to prove it.

Politics, Religion, Sex, Football, and Other Topics Taught to Avoid...

I just got done having a very interesting conversation with one of my coworkers. We have different views on many controversial topics in today's society and I thought it was interesting to be able to talk about which aspects we agree and disagree on and not bite each other's heads off. How often do we really see this kind of conversation anymore?

As children we are taught that there are and aren't certain topics that should be discussed at the dinner table or when company is at the house. For instance, when your child tells your boss and his family about the time he had the flu and the messes it created, you may want to run and hide. Society has taught adults nearly the same way, but about different topics, and why we shouldn't talk about them.
Some of these tabooed subjects include, but are not limited to, the following:

Politics - Regardless of which political party you associate yourself with, society has deemed this as an inappropriate topic that should never be discussed with people. I believe that others have different view points and I am glad for this. Having different views means we are different people and our Nation is bettered because of this. Because, let's be honest, what if we all thought exactly like one political leader or the other? That would be a note-worthy World War... if anyone survived. I am not saying that when you invite a family over for dinner your first question should be, "Welcome, who are you voting for in the next _____ election?", but I am saying that it shouldn't be something we so scarcely talk about our kids won't know how. How many children in this day and age even understand voting or political parties? If we don't teach our children why people have the views they have, how do we expect America to get any better than it is today? If an individual votes without a knowledge of what they are voting for or who it will affect in the long run, it could swing a ballot in a way they didn't intend. People need to be educated about politics and have their own opinions rather than counting on others to make decisions for them and in order to educate, individuals have to not be so scared of talking about this subject.

Religion - I understand that every citizen of the United States has a freedom to this topic and that's why it shouldn't be discussed. However, I also believe that because of this exact freedom, more people shouldn't feel so awkward about voicing their beliefs. I will never be offended or angry if someone were to ask me what I believe in spiritually, I think of it as a positive opportunity. I am also open to hearing about what other people believe. I might not agree with you or your religious views, but I can offer you a listening ear and a non-violent response; ultimately, isn't this what we all want?

Sex - Many people get squeamish around the term sex. I believe this has a lot to do with the natural tendency to be perverted in our culture. With same sex marriages being more and more prominent in our society, I do not understand the need to suddenly avoid this topic at all costs. I do believe there is a time and a place to talk about sex and personal views on when and when not sex is appropriate, but the truth is, the more people avoid talking about sex and opinions thereof, the more alienated people will become to the pure essence of this topic. I think that parents are responsible for the amount of knowledge and the initial opinions instilled in an individual, but parents have to make sure they are stepping up to the plate and taking this responsibility seriously.

Football - Honestly, this is more of an example, but I like examples. When you combine football, fans of two or more football teams, and one television, things are bound to get messy. Discussion of football teams and players can be a lot like discussing politics. Is it as crucial to the make up of America? Maybe, maybe not. It depends on who you ask. I am a very big sports fan, so I have opinions on nearly every sport and the players of that sport, but do I think it is an inappropriate topic to discuss with my family or friends? Absolutely not. I need to be able to see the points in other views, just as much as they do. What still gets me is how nearly stupid this example is, but how controversial and offensive the above three are.

Ultimately, the way I look at it is this: I might disagree with the way you think, but that should not hinder me from being able to accept you as a person. Deeds and opinions aside, I should accept you for being you. A fellow human.
I should not fear having opinions about different topics, I should be comfortable and confident in what I believe in and along with that, I should be able to accept and understand that other people will be as well.
I believe that there is a time and place for everything to be discussed, but people shouldn't hide behind that excuse to never talk about certain things.

Feel free to comment and let me know what you think. What are some other topics that have been taught to avoid?